Begone old counterpart paper licence

Hello fantastic PLASTIC and the electronic world!

• Legislation
• DVSA

Just in case it felt a bit hard for you, the DVLA has published advice and a series of simple step-by-step videos about the impending abolition of the counterpart to the photocard driving licence which happens next week.
From Monday 8 June, the paper counterpart to the photocard driving licence will not be valid and will no longer be issued by DVLA. Well good - no more extra bit of tatty paper, possibly peppered with endorsements, to carry around. The counterpart came in alongside the plastic card driving licence and its job was to display details that couldn't be shown on the photocard part of the licence, including the vehicle categories the licence holder is entitled to drive and any endorsement/penalty points.

The DVLA says the decision to abolish the counterpart was as a result of the government’s Red Tape Challenge consultation on road transportation.

The DVLA advises people to destroy the paper counterpart after 8 June, (maybe put it in the barbecue and use it to cook a  sausage - it will probably only manage one sausage as it is quite small! - This is not official DVLA advice by the way, you should watch their video for that) However, paper driving licences issued before the photocard was introduced in 1998 remain valid and should not be destroyed. In other words if it is the old pre plastic one and is your actual current in-use driving licence then DON'T barbecue it.
From next Monday, penalty points (endorsements) will only be recorded electronically and will not be printed or written on either photocard or paper driving licences. Instead, this information will be held on DVLA’s driver record, and can be viewed online, by phone or post.
People who drive for a living and have to provide evidence of their driving record can do this free online by accessing DVLA’s Share Driving Licence service.
With regard to hiring a vehicle, DVLA advises people to check with the hire company what they need to see. The person hiring the vehicle can request a unique code which lasts for up to 72 hours and allows them to share their licence details, or download a summary of their driving licence record.
Pleased to see the counterpart go or gonna keep it forever and frame it along with your last tax disc? Let us know on: [email protected]